For local nonprofits, things will begin to slow down for some, while others wish things would.

“People see the Salvation Army ringing the bells during the holidays and it reminds them to come and see us,” said Tony Maitilasso, the manager of the Salvation Army Store on Center Street in Jacksonville. “Now that the holiday is over, we do after Christmas sales to continue drawing people in but things will taper off as time goes on. Each holiday has its own little spike where we get busy, which is nice.”

After the holidays, Maitilasso said the Salvation Army stores have fewer shoppers and the nonprofit takes in fewer donations.

“This past year only about 60 percent ask for tax documentation and the other 40 percent just donate out of the kindness of their heart,” Maitilasso said. “Some people just want to help us out during the holidays.”

The store has more volunteers during the holidays, Maitilasso said. Among the most popular items at the Salvation Army during the holidays are Christmas trees, which he said sell out as soon as they hit the floors.

The busy season, he said, lasts from the end of October to mid-January, when things go back to normal until Valentine’s Day. Before Christmas, more than enough volunteers are available, but now that it’s a new year, they are harder to get through the door, he said.

At the Infant of Prague Catholic Thrift Shop, volunteers receive, process and sell donated articles to raise money for the parish and to help the poor and needy. Donations can include clothing, furniture and other miscellaneous merchandise.

“Our donations usually pick up after Christmas because people are getting rid of their old stuff,” said Joe Frank, the manager of IOP Thrift Store. “Since the first of the year we’ve been doing fairly well and that is definitely expected to continue. We have very loyal customers and volunteers.”

Working at a thrift store is an enjoyable experience, he said, but it does get frustrating at times trying to keep everything in line and the shelves fully stocked. If it weren’t for the volunteers, he said, the IOP could not operate. The money raised, according to Frank, goes right back into the community, helping people pay their electric or water bills and donating housewares to families, among other services.

“We see a lot of Christmas decorations this time of year,” he said. “We also see a lot of toys that children have outgrown, household items and furniture items. Selling all these things is priceless because you are helping someone.”

At the Onslow Women’s Center — a nonprofit that provides support to women and children affected by domestic violence and sexual assault — there is no slow time of the year.

Page 2 of 2 - “We’re kind of cyclical unlike many other nonprofits,” said Junie Christian, the director of the shelter. “Since we provide a dual shelter, it means we are always near or at capacity. Unfortunately, we do get busier during the darker months.”

In his line of work, Christian said he wishes that the center no longer had to stay in business and that sexual assaults and domestic violence were a thing of the past.

“The good thing is that our community is good at providing a safe place for women to go when they ask for help to recover,” he said. “The community makes sure we are taken care of throughout the entire year and I thank God they are here. Everyone, from churches to car dealerships, support us and provide a safety net for the community — both for the military and civilian population.”